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Belfast City Airport Celebrate Alicante Flight Take Off


June 2024


easyJet Celebrates Ninth Aircraft Arrival at Belfast International Airport


EASYJET, has welcomed an additional aircraft to its base at Belfast International Airport, meaning the airline will operate its largest ever flying programme from Northern Ireland this summer, offering over 3.8 million seats to and from Belfast. The new neo aircraft will join five Airbus A320 family aircraft already serving the airline’s customers in Belfast International, the most since operations began,


demonstrating the


airline’s long-term commitment to Northern Ireland by providing more great value choice, offering 46 routes across 12 countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The airline recently launched brand new flights


to Larnaca in Cyprus for the first time, operating three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays throughout the year. The airline is also operating a new summer route to Enfidha in Tunisia, with the new service now operating up to twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the year.


BELFAST City Airport has marked the commencement of its highly anticipated summer flights to Alicante. Operated by easyJet, the service to the ever-popular Spanish region will fly twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays.


easyJet’s new route gives customers in Northern Ireland more choice and connectivity for their summer holiday, whether it’s for a city break in Alicante or to relax on Spain’s sunny beaches. Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “We are delighted to be launching a new route from Belfast City to Alicante, providing our customers in Belfast with more choice when planning their summer holiday whether they are looking for a cultural city break or to relax on the beaches of the Costa Blanca, there is something for everyone. “We are proud to be the largest airline in Belfast and Northern Ireland and remain committed to offering customers great value fares and more choice when they fly with us.”


Ellie McGimpsey, Aviation Development Manager at Belfast City Airport, commented: “At Belfast City Airport, we are committed to delivering both choice and convenience to our passengers, and the take-off of easyJet’s first flight to Alicante marks the beginning of the bustling summer period.


“Feedback from our passengers has indicated a strong demand for sunshine routes, and we are thrilled to offer flights to much sought-after holiday destinations directly from the UK and Ireland’s Most Convenient Airport. “Whether you’re travelling for a family holiday, a golfing


trip, or to sightsee, Alicante, which has a short flight time of just over three hours, has something for everyone.” The service to Alicante will also provide choice for travellers wishing to visit Benidorm, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, and Torremolinos. In addition to Alicante, easyJet will also facilitate flights from Belfast City Airport to Palma de Mallorca from 30th May.


Ellie added: “With our prime location, just five minutes


from Belfast city centre, those who choose Belfast City Airport can travel from the heart of Belfast, and with average security processing times of just six minutes, it’s never been easier to get to where you’re going hassle-free and on time. “At Belfast City Airport we pride ourselves on delivering an enhanced travel experience, and we look forward to welcoming many more passengers through our terminal this summer.” Belfast City Airport was recently confirmed as the UK’s Most Punctual Airport for 2023 and was also recognised at the prestigious Routes Europe 2024 Awards, designed to celebrate excellence in aviation.


New Scanners at Dublin Airport Will Speed up Security Process


NEW scanners at Dublin Airport will help to speed up the security process for passengers by cutting out the need to remove liquids from luggage. Dublin


Airport Managing


Director, Gary McLean, estimates that the airport will have installed enough of the new C3 scanners to handle half of all passengers this


summer. “We will have 10 installed in terminal two and up to four in terminal one by the end of May,” he said, adding that DAA would then pause work for the summer before continuing to install 35 of the new scanners in total. While the 100ml limit on liquids is still in place at the airport, the


C3 scanners cut the need to remove material such as liquids from bags, speeding up security queues. DAA will keep Dublin car parking fees in line with 2023, but the airport faces a squeeze on its 23,000 spaces, while a potential 6,200 extra slots in the old Quick Park nearby on Swords Road remain unused.


Jet2 Celebrate 15 Years of Operations To Dubrovnik From Belfast


ON 2nd May 2009, the first Jet2.com flight landed in Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport and a decade and a half later, the leading leisure airline is celebrating 15 years of operating award-winning flights to the popular destination. Since that first flight, the company has enjoyed tremendous growth,


both through


Jet2.com and the UK’s largest tour operator Jet2holidays,


with


thousands of customers having travelled to Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport. For Summer 24, the companies have weekly Friday services on sale to the city in Southern


Croatia from 26th April to 1st November, meaning customers in Northern Ireland can continue to enjoy flights and holidays this summer to Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport. Dubrovnik offers days of sightseeing and island- hopping adventures giving way to evenings of waterfront wining and dining.


Taking centre


stage is the city’s swoon- worthy Old Town, with its network of ancient alleys,


pretty piazzas


and terracotta rooftops all wrapped up in grand stone walls. But out of town,


fragrant pine forests and handsome harbours are ripe for exploring.


secluded coves,


1.3 Million Passengers Have Used Belfast International


Both routes now provide customers in Northern Ireland with even more choice when planning their summer getaway, whether they want to relax by crystal clear waters or discover some of Europe’s most charming cities.


Airport So Far in 2024 THE 2024 quarterly traffic figures published by VINCI Airports show that Belfast International Airport served 1.3 million passengers in the first quarter of 2024, which represents 98% of pre- pandemic (2019) numbers. Belfast International Airport’s strong recovery is further evidenced by its increased GB and European connectivity.


Airlines have boosted the range of destinations now on offer with seven new routes to start in 2024 as well as increased frequencies on a range of destinations. easyJet will launch Tunisia and Larnaca with Ryanair


and Jet2 having already launched new flighst to Malta. Jet2 will also launch new services to Bodrum with TUI introducing summer flights to Larnaca as well as new routes to both Salzburg and Turin as winter destinations.


Travel Solutions will continue their


ever popular flights to Bulgaria and Italy and Balkan Holidays will continue to operate Bulgaria year round. There were almost 110,00 total aircraft movements


at Belfast International from Jan-March this year, which is an increase of 25% on 2023 figures. Dan Owens, CEO, Belfast


International Airport


said: “These figures are extremely positive and clearly show Belfast International Airport’s continued strong recovery. We are expecting a busy year ahead with an extensive range of destinations that will boost the local economy as well as providng further choice for local travellers.


Our £100m investement plan continues


at pace as our new security building is on track to be operational this summer alongside further terminal enhancements.”


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